Sitting National Conference MlC, Sajjad Kitchloo, who served as MoS (Home) in the council of Ministers in Omar Abdullah Government, on Sunday found himself in a tight spot after several BJP-PDP legislators demanded his immediate arrest alleging his direct involvement in the Kishtwar riots case has been established by the Enquiry commission headed by Justice (Retd) RC Gandhi. Though the contents of the Gandhi Commission report are yet to be made public by the State Government, the State BJP unit lost no time to corner the National Conference leader and demanded his immediate arrest and registration of an FIR against him. The State Governemnt was forced to make a statement on the floor following strong protests by the BJP legislators. Displaying news reports, the BJP legislators demanded action against the National Conference leader and also shouted slogans against him. PDP legislators echoed the BJP legislators.
Parliamentary and law Affairs Minister Basharat Ahmad Bukhari confirmed that the State Government has received the report few days ago and the contents of the same are being examined before discussing it in the State Cabinet. BJP Minister and local legislator from Kishtwar Sunil Sharma also targeted the National Conference MlC by demanding his arrest in the case. Sharma said along with Kitchloo, several senior police and civil officers have been reportedly indicted by the Justice (Retd) Gandhi Commission. Sajjad Kitchloo’s name had surfaced during Kishtwar riots. Three people were killed and over 40 others were injured in the day-long incidents of violence and looting in the area after the Eid prayers on August 9, 2013. Kitchloo, was later given clean chit by the same commission in its preliminary report on December 20, 2013 following which he was reinducted in the Council of Ministers by Omar Abdullah.
In its 160-page interim report former Deputy Commissioner, SP, Duty magistrates of violence-hit areas and other lower rank officers were held responsible for not being present on ground which led to spread of violence. Interestingly, the majority of senior district and police officers were present in the company of Kitchloo in the Dak Bunglow and some of them had even escorted him safely after the violence broke out. From Dak Bunglow the senior officers tried to control the situation while Kitchloo remained closeted.
Kitchloo had also publicly acknowledged their role in controlling the volatile situation but Justice (Retd) Gandhi found them responsible for the spread of violence. The situation was brought under control after the flag march by army columns late in the evening on the fateful day. Official sources claimed,the State Government headed by Omar Abdullah had ignored advance intelligence warnings about the flare up of tensions especially after sectarian clashes in Budgam and Gool firing incident.
The reports claimed that the state govt failed to contain the violence as the district police authorities had not prepared any deployment plan despite having the intelligence reports. Reacting to the developments State BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi sunday said that the findings of Justice RC Gandhi Commission have made it crystal clear that it was the then MoS Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitcloo, who played the main role in Kishtwar riots and used his position to influence IGP, DIG and DC Kishtwar to act in a biased manner. Demanding immediate action on the final report of Justice RC Gandhi Commission, the BJP Spokesperson said that Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo and the said police and civil officials have been, on the whole, found responsible for August 2013 Kishtwar riots and hence FIR should be registered against them and they all be arrested at the earliest so that justice is delivered to the people of Kishtwar.
Sunil Sethi took the NC leadership to task for opposing the final report adding that if NC accepted the interim report of the Commission, why is it opposing the final report as interim report is never the final conclusion of the entire exercise of enquiry which involves lengthy sittings, collecting evidences, recording of statements of affected people and questioning of the witnesses. The final report should be honoured and accepted by the NC. Meanwhile, NC legislator and Provincial president DS Rana commenting on the findings of the commission claimed if NC MlC Sajjad Kitchloo has been indicted by the commission it raises big question marks on the credibility of the commission. He said the same commission had earlier exonerated him in its preliminary report. Either of the reports were politically motivated, he added.